The overall vision of AITEC was defined in its founding text (1983) : “To establish practically and professionally a refusal of the technical “diktats” and to give political debate its importance back”. This means “overcoming the divide between the professionals and the activists”, and “progressing on both a political and a professional front in order to better respond to the demands of workers and peoples for progress and independence”. By refusing to make knowledge exclusive and unaccessible, we encourage a variety of approaches and invite technicians to accept or to widen and develop debates.

AITEC’s project is strongly rooted in the field of international political economy : it has developed its reflection on differents themes since its creation, among which :
– housing access and right to the city
– public services, access to rights and democracy
– The reform of the International financial institutions
– Debt cancellation and financing for development
– Trade and development, regulation of international trade
...

In this way expertise, in connection with social movements, NGOs and trade unions, represents a dominant axis.AITEC defines itself as a network of professionals, associations and professional and expertise groups, working itself in connection with a number of associations.

Through various activities (seminars, workshops, publications, briefing and policy papers, experience sharings...), AITEC aims at contributing to the exchange of informations, analysis and expertise, while avoiding north/south dichotomy or citizens/specialists divisions.

AITEC collaborates with other organizations for much of its work. AITEC is becoming increasingly involved in collectives, it has a strong presence in international conferences, working alongside other organizations challenging the dominant currents. AITEC participates in the alternative globalisation movement, particularly through themed seminars : social forums, particularly the first World Social Forum at Porto Alegre (in reaction to the Economic Forum at Davos), counter summits to the G7-G8, at the counter Franco-African summit, etc…

Thus AITEC shows itself as a part of the world social and citizen’s movement.

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